Charrebourgs
may reasonably aspire to."

"It is fully as numerous and respectable, notwithstanding, as the
society which the last descendant of the Charrebourgs enjoyed in the
ancestral park where first I had the honor of making her acquaintance."

"Yes; but not such as with my birth and beauty I might and _must_ have
commanded, sir."

"Well, what do you expect? These people won't give fetes."

"Bring me to Paris, sir; I wish to take my place among the noble
society, where I may meet my equals; and at court, where I may, like all
my ancestry, see my sovereign. Here, sir, my days fly by in melancholy
isolation; I am kept but to amuse your leisure; this, sir, is not
indulgence--it is selfish and tyrannical."

Monsieur Le Prun looked angrier and uglier than ever she had seen him
before. His eyes looked more black and prominent, and his face a great
deal paler. But he did not trust himself with an immediate answer; and
his features, as if in the effort to restrain the retort his anger
prompted, underwent several grotesque and somewhat ghastly contortions.

His handsome wife, meanwhile, sat sullen and defiant, daring, rather
than deprecating, the menaced explosion of his wrath.

Their matrimonial bickerings, however, were not so soon to reach their
climax. Monsieur Le Prun contrived to maintain a silent
self-command--thrust his hands into his pockets, walked to the window
humming an air, and after a few moments' pause, turned abruptly and left
the room.

Near the stair-head he met old Marguerite on her way to Lucille's
apartments. He signed to her to follow him, and entered a chamber there.
She perceived the unmistakable traces of angry excitement in his
face--always sinister in an old man, but in one so powerful, and about
whom she had heard so many dark rumors, full of vague terrors. As soon
as he had closed the door, he said to her--

"I hope they make you comfortable here, Marguerite?"

"Yes, sir, very comfortable," she replied, with a low courtesy, and
trembling a good deal.

"Well, Marguerite, I suppose you would wish to make a suitable return.
Now, some vile miscreant meddler, who has got the ear of your young
mistress, has been endeavoring to make her unhappy in her present
secluded situation--I think I could place my hand upon the culprit; but
at all events, do _you_ lose no opportunity henceforward of cheering
her, and reconciling your young mistress, to this most suitable
residence."

It was perfe